Matrix



Feb. 18, 1941. I w. KOLLER 2,231,925

MATRIX Filed Sept. 30, 1939 INVENTOR BY Pl aZ'Lez' Kalle!" ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATRIX Walter Koller, Kuesnacht, Switzerland, assignor to Intertype Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a cor- I poratlon of New York 11 Claims. (01. 95-85) The present invention relates to a novel and improved matrix for use in apparatus for photographically producing type matter for printing processes, particularly off-set and intaglio processes.- The present application is a continuation in part of my prior application Serial No. 145,373, filed May 28, 1937, which is a division of my application Serial No. 114,039, filed Dec. 3, 1936, and a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 145,374, filed May 28, 1937, which is a continuation in part of my said application Serial No. 114,039.

The matrices according to the present invention are usable in or adaptable to the well known matrix line composing machines for assembling matrices, through manipulation of character keys on a keyboard, from storage magazines and for distributing the matrices after use back to such magazines, but the matrices according to the present invention are adapted for photographic purposes rather than for the casting of type slugs, although the matrices may have the same configuration as those employed in lead or type slug casting machines. vided by the present invention for photographic purposes, according to the preferred method, thecomposed lines of matrices are supplied with suitable spacers whenever necessary to form justified lines of the desired' length, and the individual matrices and spacers are thereafter presented one by one before a photographic device so that the sum of the characters and spacers reproduced by separate and successive exposures of these elements taken from a composed line forms a photographed line on a sensitized film, the matrices being subsequently returned to their storage magazines.

As is well understood by those familiar with printing, since the characters, of the alphabet vary in width, the matrices of line composing machines bearing characters on their narrow edges vary correspondingly in thickness. In the present invention the character or characters borne by each matrix body or carrier element is disposed substantially in parallel relation to the flat side or face of the matrix body, and the body thickness of each matrix may be proportioned to the width value or setwise width of the character borne by the matrix. Thus, in the step of photographing the matrices, the body thicknesses of the elements or matrices being photographed'may be used to govern the extent of the successive advances of the sensitized film receiving the successive photographic impressions.

The matrix provided by the present invention In using the matrices pro-' may carry the character or characters on a plaque, such as a piece of film negative for photographing by transmitted light; or the character may be formed by opaque portions on a transparent background, or the character may be presented on an opaque plaque, or on the flat side of the matrix body in color or tone on a contrasting background from which the character stands out for photographing by reflected light.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which shows several embodiments of matrices embodying the invention,

Figure 1 is a frontview of a matrix embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 15 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of a matrix illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and 20 Figure 5 shows several of the matrices composed into a line with spacer elements ll.

Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing. 25

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, I designates a type carrier or matrix having a matrix body having a body thickness a. The configuration or outline of the matrix body is shown as conforming with matrices commonly used in line-casting machines of well known type. However, instead of having on either of the narrow edges 2 or 3 of the matrix a punched or otherwise formed character to be reproduced in lead, the matrix is provided with a recess 4 (and forming a window as shown in the present embodiment) centrally located and provided with a shoulder portion 5. Shoulder portion 5, as shown in Figure 2, is approximately little more than half-way in from the left-hand or front face of the matrix. Mounted in this hole and supported on the shoulder 5 is a plaque 6 in the form of a piece of film or glass bearing a photographically reproducible character 6a. This film may comprise an opaque background for a transparent character or vice versa. Binding means i, which may be of metal or plastic material, firmly holds the film 6 in place in the opening 4 against shoulder 5. The distance the shoulder 5 is spaced in from the front face is preferably the same in each matrix regardless of the thickness of the matrix body. Thus during the photographing step by bringing the front faces into a standard reference position with respect to the photographing apparatus the characters of the matrices are always in proper form.

With this construction the film E and its character lie in a plane parallel to the flat broad side faces of the carrier element, or body matrix, so that when assembled in a composed line the characters lie in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the line.

As above pointed out the character bearing plaque 6 may be made from film negative. Or the character may be painted or stamped on the plaque and be capable of being photographed by reflected rather than by transmitted light.

When the matrices are to be used in work for producing type matter requiring justified lines, the body thicknesses a of the matrices are preferably proportioned to the character widths b as shown in Figures 1 and 2. With this construction, when the matrices are composed into a. line with spacer elements, as shown in Figure 5, the

characters of the matrices may be photographicaliy reproduced on a sensitized surface by successively and separately removing them from the composed line and photographing them and proportioning the photographing film movement for each photographing step in proportion to the body thicknesses of the matrices and spacer elements being photographed.

Mounting the character bearing plaque 6 in the opening 4 in the matrix body in such manner that it is indented from both faces of the matrix has many advantages. When such matrices are used in and circulated through the usual matrix composing, distributing, and storing mechanism commonly used in line casting machines, the major wear is on the edges 8 and 9 of the matrix, but this wearing does not affect the character bearing plaque which by virtue of the indentation referred to is protected by the two side faces of the matrix.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, another modification of a matrix embodying the invention is disclosed in which the plaque B is mounted substantially flush with one of the faces of the matrix body in a recess 4 provided in the matrix body. Further, one of the narrow edges of the matrix body is provided with a reference character In corresponding to the character 6a that the matrix body carries on its broad side. This aids shown in Figure 5.

Further, several types of characters may be carried by a single plaque 6, as shown in Figure 3 which shows the characters 2-a arranged in different positions on levels.

camera lens by any type carrier or matrix is positioned vertically and usual line composing machine.

I claim:

1. A matrix for use in the photographic pro duction of type matter for printing processes, said matrix having the characteristics of matrices adapted for circulation in type line composing machines including parallel opposed flat side faces and a plurality of ears projecting laterally from the matrix between said faces to support the matrix during assembly with like matrices in composing a line, and having an opening through its body intersecting said flat side faces and a type character bearing film mounted in said opening in a plane parallel to but located between said faces, whereby said matrix may be brought into position for the passage of light through the film and exposure of the type character thereon to a sensitized surface parallel therewith by translation of the matrix out of the line in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said line.

2. A character bearing matrix for use in the photographic production of type matter for printing processes, said matrix having opposed flat side faces adapted to contact with similar faces of like matrices when assembled therewith into a composed line of matrices and having a thickness between said side faces determined by the setwise width of the character it bears, and the character on said matrix being carried on a film disposed between the side faces in a plane parallel thereto, whereby said character may be exposed from the end of the line for photographic reproduction on a sensitized surface normal to the longitudinal axis of the line upon relative displacement of the matrix in a direction laterally of the line.

3. A line composing matrix for use in photographic production of type matter, said matrix having a photographable character disposed on a fiat side thereof, and having a body thickness proportioned to the width value of the character.

4. A character bearing matrix for use in the photographic production of type matter for printing processes, said matrix having opposed flat side faces adapted to contact with similar faces 3 of like matrices when assembled therewith into a composed line of matrices and having a thickness between said side faces proportioned to the setwise width of the character it bears, the character on said matrix being carried on a film disposed between the side faces in a plane parallel thereto, whereby said character may be exposed from the end of the line for photographic repro- 5. A matrix having a photographable character for use in the photographic production of printing said matrix carrying between and indented from said side faces a photographable character in a plane parallel to the side faces and said matrix having a body thickness between said side faces proportioned to the setwise Width of the character it bears.

6. A matrix having a photographable character for use in the photographic production of type matter for printing processes, said matrix having opposed side faces adapted to contact similar side faces of hke matrices when assem- 7. A matrix having a photographable character for use in the photographic production of having opposed side faces adapted with similar faces of like matrices when assemtype matter for printing processes, said matrix to contact bled therewith into a composedline of matrices, said matrix having an opening connecting its sides, a plaque mounted in said opening having opaque and light-transmitting portions forming a photographable character, and said matrix having a body thickness between said side faces proportioned to the setwise width of the character.

8. A'matrix having a photographable character for use in the photographic production of type matter for printing processes, said matrix having opposed side faces adapted to contact with similar faces of like matrices when assembled therewith into a composed line of matrices,

" said matrix having an opening connecting its side faces, a plaque mounted therein having opaque and light-transmitting portions forming a photographable character, said plaque being indented from both of said faces, and the matrix having a body thickness proportioned to the width value of the character.

9. A matrix having a photographable character for use in thephotographic production of type matter for printing processes, said matrix having opposed side. faces adapted to contact with similar faces of like matrices when assembled therewith into a composed line of matrices, said matrix having an opening between its side faces, a shoulder in the side walls of said opening, a plaque having a photographable character mounted in said opening on said shoulder, an annular binding means for holding said plaque in place against said shoulder, said binding means being adapted to be removed from binding position for replacement of the plaque,

40 and said matrix having a body thickness proporplace against tioned to the setwise width of the character of said plaque.

10. A matrix having a photographable character for use in the photographic production of type matter for printing processes, said matrix having opposed side faces adapted to contact with similar faces of like matrices when assembled therewith into a composed line of matrices, said matrix having an opening between its side faces, a shoulder in the side walls of said opening, a plaque having a photographable character mounted in said opening on said shoulder, annular binding means for holding said plaque in the shoulder and overhanging said shoulder, said binding means being adapted to be removed from the binding position for replacement of the plaque, and said matrix having a body thickness proportioned to 'the setwise width of the character on said plaque.

11. A matrix body having a photographable character for use in the photographic production of type matter for printing processes, said matrix body having opposed side faces adapted to contact similar side faces of like matrix bodies when assembled therewith into a composed line of matrix bodies, said matrix body carrying said photographable character between and indented from said side faces and in a plane parallel to the side faces, and said matrix body being provided with spaced surfaces thedistance between which is proportioned to the setwise width of its photographable character, whereby during the successive photographic reproduction on a sensitized surface of the photographable characters of a composed line of said matrix bodies the spacing of the respective photographically reproduced characters may be governed by the distance between said spaced surfaces of the respective assembled matrix bodies.

I WALTER KOLIER. 

